A barrister has initiated defamation proceedings against the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone over tweets from the politicians after the lawyer had participated in an RTÉ radio programme.

Benedict Ó Floinn BL claims he was defamed in the tweets after he participated in a panel discussion on the RTÉ Radio show Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra concerning the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth amendment.